accepted as very tolerable travelling companions. Enjoy
better when it can be had, Con, but prefer even the humblest fare to a
famine,"--a rule more applicable to mental food than to material.

In a little self-colloquy after this kind, I crept stealthily back,
leading Charry by the bridle, and halting at intervals to listen. What
a triumph to my skill in divination as I heard the Friar's loud voice
overtopping the gushing flood, while he exhorted his beasts in the most
energetic fashion!

I advanced cautiously till I gained a little clump of brushwood, from
which I could see the river and the group perfectly. The Friar had
now mounted the wagon, and held the reins; the Mexican was, however,
standing in the stream and leading the cattle, who appeared to have
regained somewhat more of their courage, and were slowly proceeding,
sniffing timidly as they went, and pawing the water fretfully.

The Mexican advanced boldly, till the water reached nigh the top of
his great _botas vaqueras_, immense boots of buffalo hide, which, it is
said, resist the bite of either cayman or serpent; and so far the
horses went, doubtless from the encouragement. As soon, however, as the
deepening flood warned the man to mount the wagon, they halted abruptly,
and stood pawing and splashing the stream, while their ears flattened
back, and their drawn-in tails evinced the terror that was on them.

Objurgations, entreaties, prayers, curses, menaces, were all in vain,--a
step farther they would not budge. All that the Spanish contained of
guttural was hurled at them without success; the cow-hide whip might
welt their flanks and leave great ridges at every stroke, the huge
pole of the Mexican might belabor them, with a running accompaniment of
kicks, but to no purpose. They cared as little for the cow-hide as the
"calendar;" neither saints nor thrashings could persuade them to move
on. Saint Anthony and Saint Ursula, Saint Forimund of Cordova, with
various others, were invoked, to no end. Saint Clement of Capua, to whom
all poisonous reptiles, from boas to whip-snakes, owe allegiance, was
called upon to aid the travellers; but the quadrupeds took no heed of
these entreaties, but showed a most Protestant contempt for the whole
litany.

There was a pause; wearied with flogging, and tired out with vain
exhortations, both Friar and Mexican, ceased, and as if in compensation
to their long pent-up feelings, vented their anger in a very guttural
round